Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer

Beowulf, The Seafarer, and The Wanderer
Beowulf Character List, Summary, and Facts

• Hrothgar-Danish King
• Grendel-a powerful monster who haunted the hall of Herot
• Grendel's Mother-was killed in her underwater cave
• Beowulf-the strongest of the Geats who came to Denmark to kill the monster, kills Grendel, and Grendel's mother
• Wiglaf-stayed with Beowulf during his last battle and granted his last wish, is appointed king by Beowulf

• action-packed written in highly dramatic language
• heroic characters
• all three monsters are killed by Beowulf
• beowulf has magical powers-swim for days, breathe underwater
• name:Beo=bear Wulf=wolf which breaks tradition-unlike his father's name
• Grendel is first on stage, Beowuls rips the arm off, Grendel's mother comes hungry for revenge, he kills her
• 50 years later a dragon comes both Beowulf and the dragon die
• he recieves a royal burial and monument
• not a pagan poem
• primarily concerned with social, not religous issues
• old testament poem-hell=home of evil, cain and abel
• evil is punished while good prevails
• message-men must learn to behave responsibly, and to love and be faithful to one another

Beowulf Flashcards
http://quizlet.com/130369/beowulf-flash-cards/

The Seafarer
This is a story of a man who cant escape the world and all of the earthly things, so he constantly puts himself back on the sea. He is constantly facing the world but does not want to be in it. He always ends up back at sea because he pushes himself away from the world. He wants to be in heaven with his Father.-example of self-exile

The Wanderer
This is a story of a man whos Lord died. He feels left alone with no protector and feels like he has nothing without him. He grieves for the loss of his Lord and feels as if he will never get his joy back without the help of God.-example of forced-exile

Questions

1. What is the name of the mead hall that Beowulf comes to save?
2. What is the name of Beowulf's magical sword?
3. Who helps Beowulf fight the dragon?
4. What does Beowulf use to kill Grendel's mother?
5. What does Beowulf ask to be done with his body when he dies?
6. What was the dragon hiding where he lived?
7. In The Seafarer where does the main character want to be?
8. Why does he keep going back to the sea?
9. In The Wanderer why does the wanderer go into exile?
10. How does the wanderer think he will be able to overcome his loss?